At the end of last year I had to go to hospital for a biopsy in my pelvis. I had been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer , but the biopsy was needed to confirm the diagnosis.
I was told the biopsy was a quick procedure and told of any major issues with it.
The first doctor tried and failed ,saying they could not get through my bone to get tissue samples. This was after several attempts. Another two doctors/nurses attempted several times each and both resulting in failure. I finally asked them to stop due to pain.
When I left the hospital I found I couldn't raise or use my right leg. I was told to "walk through it ". The pain dramatically increased and two days later I was admitted to A&E.
They found that I had internal bleeding due to a vessel being damaged during the biopsy. I was operated on and the bleeding stopped. I spent another two weeks in hospital before being discharged home.
It is now approaching four months and I am still having to use a stick for walking and in lots of pain/ discomfort in my right leg.
The question is what's peoples thoughts on compensation attempts. The Hospital have told me they completed a duty of candor. But it seems as if their view is " just one of those things"
It guiles me that I entered the place in Nov pretty much ok. Then lost my mobility and things don't seem to be improving much.
Sorry for the long msg.
Hi BrianK and welcome to the community. I am so sorry to read about the challenges you have had.
As you are mentioning Blood Cancer I am going to assume that it’s a Bone Marrow Biopsy (BMB) you are talking about?
I was diagnosed with my first type of rare incurable T-Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma back in 1999 then in late 2013 a second rare type of T-Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma appeared…… so I have had a lot of BMBs over the years.
My view of BMBs is that they are a necessary evil of having a blood cancer.
I was told the biopsy was a quick procedure and told of any major issues with it.
Based on my many BMBs this tends to be true…..
But unfortunately they do often hurt, some more than others. There is often a need for multiply medical professionals to ‘have a go’ ……. I think my record is 4 medical professionals doing one of my BMBs as medics are limited as to how often they can persist.
Having been on my journey for so long I have talked with a number of folks who have had the same-ish post BMB left over problems as you……. but if you look carefully at the consent form you would have signed these issues are all highlighted.
When I had my surgical biopsy on the brick sized mass in my neck it was clearly told that there was a chance of nerve damage and 12 years on I am still living with the nerve damage in my neck.
If you are looking to look into going ahead with pursuing compensation you will need to have an inital talk with a specialist Medical Claims Lawyer to review if you have a firm foundation to move this forward.
What type of blood cancer do you have?
Hi again BrianK .... navigating the treatment world can have it's challenges.
Over my 25 years I have had a few issues with medical professionals, mostly consultants....... less so with nursing staff and Cancer Nurse Specialists..... but some honest open conversations were always ahd and the air was cleared...... this is important as blood cancer treatments are full on and you will see the same people a lot.
Coming from a background that required me to read everything before I signed...... I instantly applied this to all the 25 years journey, not only with my Lymphomas but also other health issues. Even if it held up things going ahead and I often asked searching questions.
My story is rather complicated (See my story)........ but you will see from my story that I have had 2 Allo (donor) Stem Cell Transplants (Allo SCT)........ (Consultants still tend to use the old term of Bone Marrow Transplant)
My first Allo SCT was in June 2013..... for a number of reasons this failed 6 months later but I went back in Oct 2015 for a second and I remain in remission to this day.
I see that you have joined our MDS/MPN/ET/PV/myelofibrosis (MF) support group.
Should you go ahead with your STC you may want to join our dedicated Stem Cell Transplant support group where you will connect with others like myself who have navigated this rollercoaster......... and the paperwork attached to this process is considerable and challanging.
Always around to chat.
